Amber Portwood released from prison about four years early

The former Teen Mom star was released from the Rockville Correctional Facility in Rockville, IN, on Monday after spending one year and four months in prison, Us Weeklyreported.

Amber was sentenced to five years in prison in January 2012 and began the sentence in June of that year, so she's been set free much earlier than expected.

Amber, who has a four-year-old daughter named Leah with ex-fiance Gary Shirley, was photographed leaving the facility with a big smile on her face and sporting gray sweats, white sneakers and a white T-Shirt that read, "Breaking Free From Addiction."

"Will be heading up to Indiana in a few days to see my sister. Can't wait until she gets out and proves she is a changed woman," Amber's brother Shawn Portwood tweeted on October 30.

Added Shawn the following day, "I am going up to see my sis when she gets released."

Word of Amber's potential release first surfaced late last month when Shawn took to Twitter expressing his excitement over the news.

"Congratulations sis. I am so happy that you are finally being released," Shawn tweeted September 24.

"You did everything you needed to do to get out long before 5 years. I received an email and text last night by the [Indiana Department of Correction] about her release but wanted to keep it secret bc that is what Amber wanted."

Amber's five-year sentence was a punishment she was actually compliant with, TMZ reported.

Amber's jail sentence was reportedly finalized when she failed to complete an intense drug rehabilitation program -- which, as part of a plea deal, had initially suspended a prison sentence -- that began in February 2012 for a December 2011 arrest for drug and probation violations.

Amber reportedly pulled herself out of the rehab program and struggled to stay clean in subsequent months. She then insisted in late May 2012 she couldn't handle the rehab treatment anymore and wanted to go to prison instead -- a request the judge granted after he rejected her attorney's plea for leniency and proceeded to impose Amber's original form of punishment, according to TMZ.

Amber reportedly claimed lengthy incarceration may be the only way to curb her "brutal" addiction to a morphine-like drug once and for all.

Authorities originally believed Amber would have to serve at least two-and-a-half years in prison, even with time off for good behavior, which reportedly included credit for time she had already spent in jail.